News 12 at 11 o'clock / Friday, Jan. 27, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Horse cutting is a sport as old as cowboys and the wild, wild West, but it didn't start out as a sport.

"When they had to cut a cow from the herd that might need to have medicine or might need to be sold or separated, and then the cowboys started betting on it, and it became a sport," Sherry Fulmer said.

She's the Augusta Futurity show manager, and for 33 years, the organization has brought modern horse cutters to the James Brown Arena.

"This is an event that people come from Texas and Oklahoma," Fulmer explained. "We have people here from Brazil."

Each year, the event herds in more and more people.

"Believe it or not, in spite of the economy, our numbers have doubled," Sherry said. "We've got approximately 600 contestants. They bring their families, their trainers, and stay in Augusta for a full week."

The event also brings in businesses like Mark Hollar's Sombrero Brands from Texas.

"It's probably our fourth or biggest show of the year," Hollar said.

His business steams and sells cowboy hats. This week, Hollar says he's sold 50 hats.

The Augusta Futurity also brings in money for businesses close to home like Kathie Lees' business, Kathie's Special Tees.

"It means a great deal because this is January," she said. "We don't do a lot of T-shirts in January, and it carries us through the spring."

All in all, the week-long event is a big cash cow for everyone in Augusta.

"We've made an economic impact on the city of Augusta over the past 30 years of over $200 million," Fulmer said, and it makes her proud.